Dubai has maintained its position as the world’s leading destination for attracting new foreign direct investment projects for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, according to data from the Financial Times’ fDi Markets on global FDI markets. The achievement reflects the strength of Dubai’s economic standing and its continued ability to attract companies, investors, and high-quality projects from around the world.
In 2025, Dubai recorded its strongest performance in attracting foreign direct investment projects since 2015, with the number of newly announced projects rising to 1,253, marking a 10.5% increase compared with 2024. The emirate also achieved a notable milestone by capturing 7% of all new foreign direct investment projects worldwide, the highest share Dubai has ever recorded in its history, further confirming growing global confidence in its economic environment.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said the achievement is the result of a clear economic vision, a successful partnership with the world, and well-defined strategic goals implemented through action plans based on a precise understanding of global changes and the needs of business communities, along with a continued ability to identify opportunities for success and respond to challenges efficiently.
His Highness said that Dubai is proud of the strong confidence reflected in these figures, reaffirming to investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators around the world the emirate’s commitment to an effective economic model based on diversity, innovation, and resilience. This model enables Dubai to move steadily toward achieving its goals and strengthens the ability of its partners to continue growing.
His Highness added that Dubai appreciates every effort that contributed to this achievement, stressing that enhancing the emirate’s global competitiveness and consolidating its position as a leading destination for turning ambitious ideas into successful projects is a goal being achieved every day. This is supported by strengthening the foundations of long-term sustainable growth, creating opportunities, stimulating talent, accelerating innovation, and preparing an attractive economic environment for the world’s most promising projects, exceptional talent, and transformative investments.
Leadership in Future-Focused Sectors
These results reflect continued progress toward achieving the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033 and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for business, investment, and innovation.
The achievement comes as Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a preferred global destination for multinational companies. The emirate maintained its first-place global ranking in attracting new foreign direct investment projects related to the establishment of regional headquarters for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting the confidence of global companies in Dubai’s ability to support their regional and international expansion plans.
Dubai also maintained its global leadership in attracting new foreign direct investment projects linked to artificial intelligence for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting the emirate’s growing role as a destination for innovation-driven growth and advanced technologies.
Dubai ranked first globally across several strategic economic sectors, including information and communications technology and electronics, creative industries, professional services, life sciences, consumer goods, financial services, industrial equipment, and environmental technology. For the first time, Dubai also secured the top global position in foreign direct investment projects in the manufacturing sector, highlighting the success of its economic diversification journey and the growing role of the emirate in advanced industries.
The emirate also ranked first globally in transport and warehousing projects, further confirming its established position in trade, logistics, and supply chains. Across high-impact industries, Dubai achieved the top global ranking in food and beverages, electronic components, healthcare, business machines and equipment, clean technology, metals, and e-commerce.
The importance of these results is further underlined by the fact that Dubai was the only destination in the world to attract more than 10 new foreign direct investment projects in several of these sectors, exceeding the minimum global ranking threshold. This confirms the breadth and diversity of Dubai’s economic base and its ability to attract high-quality investments across both traditional and future-focused sectors.
Ambitious Vision and Global Confidence
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said Dubai’s continued global leadership in attracting new foreign direct investment projects for the fifth consecutive year reflects the ambitious vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and the emirate’s ability to strengthen its position as a preferred destination for investment and business worldwide.
His Excellency explained that this achievement confirms the growing confidence investors and global companies place in Dubai’s economic environment, as well as in the competitive advantages and promising growth opportunities it offers. He added that, amid the changes taking place across global markets, Dubai continues to enhance its investment appeal through a flexible and future-focused economic ecosystem supported by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, helping attract more high-quality investments.
He also noted that these results confirm the strength of Dubai’s diversified economy, the effectiveness of partnerships between the public and private sectors, and the clarity of the regulatory framework that continues to attract quality investments in vital sectors. These indicators also support the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and reinforce the emirate’s position as one of the world’s most resilient and stable investment destinations under different circumstances.
Sustainable Flow of Capital
During 2025, Dubai continued to consolidate its position at the forefront of global foreign direct investment indicators, supported by clear growth in invested capital and project activity. According to fDi Markets data, the emirate attracted new foreign direct investment worth $8.83 billion, equivalent to AED 32.43 billion, during 2025.
These investments helped create 38,918 jobs during the year, an increase of 18.8% compared with 32,754 jobs in 2024. Investment performance during the year showed diversity across different investment types, including new investment projects, reinvestment, venture capital-backed activities, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic expansion operations.
Dubai also maintained its first-place global ranking in attracting new foreign direct investment projects related to corporate headquarters. The emirate succeeded in attracting diversified investments across a wide range of key business activities and economic sectors, including business services, construction, retail, logistics, distribution, transport, and manufacturing. This reflects investor confidence in Dubai’s ability to meet the operational needs of companies, from regional headquarters to logistics centers, advanced industries, and consumer-focused businesses.
His Excellency Hadi Badri, CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said the scale and quality of foreign direct investment inflows in 2025 reflect continued global confidence in Dubai’s long-term growth path. He explained that the continued inflow of capital shows that investors are choosing to strengthen their presence and operations in the emirate rather than adopting short-term strategies.
He added that the quality and diversity of investment flows reflect Dubai’s ability to anticipate structural shifts in the global economy, including corporate headquarters, high-value manufacturing, artificial intelligence, financial technology, logistics, and creative industries. He emphasized that investors recognize Dubai’s unique combination of flexible regulatory frameworks, advanced digital infrastructure, and world-class talent and skills.
Strong Economic Foundations and Proactive Governance
Dubai continues to benefit from strong economic foundations that steadily support this momentum. The emirate’s annual gross domestic product reached AED 937 billion in 2025, recording growth of 5.4%. Growth also accelerated in the fourth quarter of the same year to 6.4%, clearly indicating continued economic expansion despite ongoing fluctuations in global markets.
Data from the Dubai FDI Monitor confirmed continued investor confidence, driven by clear diversity in international source markets, including North America, Europe, Asia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. This diversity strengthens Dubai’s position as a global investment hub and a strategic bridge connecting East and West, supported by world-class connectivity, trade-facilitating reforms, and a regulatory environment defined by transparency and continuous modernization.
Economic sectors also maintained broad momentum, with strong investment activity across business services, hotels and tourism, transport and warehousing, consumer products, real estate, software and IT services, and financial services. This confirms continued growth in both traditional sectors and the economy of the future.
Through these indicators, Dubai continues to demonstrate its ability to turn ambitions into tangible achievements, supported by a clear vision for the coming years. Its investment-friendly policies and strategic direction provide a platform that balances opportunity, stability, and a long-term outlook, enabling companies to expand, supporting partnerships, and helping create sustainable value.
Dubai also has a strong track record in dealing with global economic fluctuations. Across different crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the emirate proved its ability to recover quickly and emerge stronger and more competitive. Today, Dubai continues to strengthen its position through institutional resilience, rapid policy response to change, and growing investor confidence.
The recently announced AED 2.5 billion economic incentives package also reflects Dubai’s proactive approach to governance. The package was designed to ease financial pressures, enhance liquidity, and support business continuity across key sectors. It includes the deferral of fees in hospitality, trade, and licensing sectors, the extension of customs grace periods, and the simplification of residency permit procedures, supporting the attraction and retention of global talent.
These initiatives confirm Dubai’s commitment to maintaining a business environment that enables companies to plan, invest, and grow with confidence. They also support the emirate’s progress toward achieving the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and strengthening its position as a global destination for investment and sustainable growth.
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